By Sheldon Spackman

Young Blackfalds boy signs one-day contract with Blue Jays

Sep 1, 2018 | 5:49 PM

A Blackfalds boy was one of nine lucky kids from across the country last weekend to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by signing a one-day mock contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Future NBL all-star Jonathan Stolte, 8, was part of the ‘Jr. Jay for a Day’ signing initiative, a partnership between Boston Pizza and the Toronto Blue Jays.

The second annual event saw the young Jays ink their deal with team alumnus J.P. Arencibia while receiving an official team jersey and taking in a ball game of course.

“We are very excited to be working with the Toronto Blue Jays to give these nine future all-stars from across Canada the chance to join the Blue Jays organization,” says James Kawalecki, Director of Marketing, Boston Pizza, in a press release. A sentiment echoed by Blue Jays alumnus J.P. Arencibia. “We’re looking forward to getting all these great kids under contract,” he says. Many kids grow up with dreams of playing professional baseball, so it’s great to be able to work with Boston Pizza to give these little ones an experience like this.”

Shane Stolte, Jonathan’s father says his son enjoyed everything about the experience.

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“The game was on a Sunday in the afternoon, so we hopped on a plane in Calgary on Saturday morning,” he recalls. “Then we got into town and went to a couple of things that evening but then Sunday we went and met at Boston Pizza in the morning and J.P. Arencibia was there, the old catcher and Jonathan signed a one-day contract with the Jays with him. Then we went up to the suite and hung out there before the kids went down and stood on the field for the starting lineup.”

Stolte says Jonathan was standing beside Lourdes Gurriel Jr in that starting lineup and received a signed baseball from him afterwards.

“It was both of ours first game,” says Stolte. “A luxury suite is a pretty nice way to see a game and then he went back down at the seventh inning stretch and they did the home team song and Take Me Out To The Ballgame. They were dancing and that part of it with the Jays girls which he thought was silly.”

Stolte says they went back down again following the game and had the kids run the bases.

“After that we had free time again, so we saw the CN Tower and hopped back on a flight Monday morning and came home so it was a pretty world-wind tour. Jonathan says it’s the best weekend he’s ever had.”

The nine lucky kids involved won the chance to be a “Jr. Jay for a Day” by entering a national colouring contest within the Boston Pizza Kids Pack. Stolte entered his submission after colouring it at Boston Pizza in Lacombe.

by Sheldon Spackman

Young Blackfalds boy signs one-day contract with Blue Jays

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